Chapter 71

In the Central Plain, there is a sacred mountain that meets the cloud. The peak is covered with snow; the base is covered with plants and flowers. In the middle of the mountain, the weather may change within seconds, such that visitors may experience all seasons within a few steps.

This mountain is called “Shizhou Mountain”, which is one province more than the Nine Provinces1. Although it is in the mortal realm, it isn’t altogether of this world.

There is also the saying that “Shizhou has eight out of ten parts of prosperity in this world”.

Shizhou Mountain has spectacular scenery. It should be a divine location that gives rise to great talents. Unfortunately, it is actually a blackhole that sucks all spiritual energy from the nature around it, without giving any back. No one can cultivate there. On the contrary, their spiritual energy will be relentlessly robbed by the place. Because of that reason, no one claimed Shizhou Mountain for a long time. Then, some powerful cultivators collaborated with each other, and created an “Immortal Binding Platform” on the top of the mountain. Fortified by countless wards, the structure is used to imprison the most terrible villains.

On the Immortal Binding Platform, there are thirty six rounds of Qiankun Dragon Binding Locks. Even the Lord of Demons wouldn’t be able to escape if he were chained in there.

From the day the place was built, countless powerful demonic cultivators have been executed here. As a result, the area is shrouded by a bloody miasma that never fades away, as if the souls whose crimes couldn’t be cleared with even death or who died a wrongful death still wandered around and listlessly watched the world turn from a place beyond life and death.

Cheng Qian regains his consciousness after an indeterminable time. His back hurt like it were pierced by needles, he is close to being unable to get up.

With his current level of cultivation, he hasn’t felt the pains of the flesh for a long time. Cheng Qian takes a deep breath and tries to struggle slightly. He realises that his limbs aren’t chained. He can even walk a little within the Dragon Binding Locks. The problem is his spiritual energy is all sealed off, making his body heavy like that of a mortal’s.

Obviously, Shuang Ren has been taken away. As far as Cheng Qian can tell, he has neither a weapon nor strength.

Nevertheless, he isn’t afraid. He stays quietly in one place to calm himself, then looks around to assess his situation. From what he can see, this place is a huge and empty hall, the doors of which are all shut. With the faint light from the thirty six Dragon Binding Locks, one can see the murals depicting scenes of demons being eliminated. The atmosphere is dark and chilly, making this place just like the Immortal Binding Platform in the legends.

The numbness caused by the hidden attack from the little worm still hasn’t dissipated. As Cheng Qian bends his head, he can see a bloodstain on his chest. He fixes his clothes, while musing that he hasn’t been so messy for a long time.

Cheng Qian is well aware that, had it not been for the puppet charm his most senior brother tied on him, he wouldn’t have been a match for that geezer. However, for someone at the post of Supreme Elder of Black Tortoise Hall to disregard all honour and use such a dirty trick on a junior after a random loss, on top of not daring to fight one on one again, it is both sad and laughable to Cheng Qian.

Some people have been staying on great heights for too long, such that they confine themselves to a corner and become unable to accept the slightest decline. Those people likely have a heart full of demons from such anxiety.

There is only one thing Cheng Qian doesn’t understand, which is why that geezer took the trouble to drag him to this so-called ‘Immortal Binding Platform’. Wouldn’t it be cleaner to just kill him?

He can’t find the answer despite thinking hard about it, so he puts it aside.

In any case, he isn’t completely innocent.

Cheng Qian isn’t afraid of being locked up here. He doesn’t care if they want to kill or torture him. His only worry is for his most senior brother. What Li Yun told him that day under the True Dragon Flag, he has understood and remembered. It’s already dangerous for a sword cultivator to have a demon of the heart. He dares not imagine how his most senior brother will turn out after the puppet charm is broken and he can’t be found.

Thus, Cheng Qian puts aside all irrelevant thoughts. Sitting down with utmost concentration, he tries to mobilise his spiritual energy to attack the binding spell on his body, no matter how many times he fails.

Just as he is about to risk everything and charge at the Qiankun Dragon Binding Lock, someone speaks behind him, “Look, young man, don’t waste your strength. If I were you, I’d lie down and take a nap.”

Cheng Qian turns with some difficulty. In front of his eyes, there is a person standing at a short distance from him. It’s unclear how that geezer got in, and now he is walking around the Dragon Binding Lock with a bored attitude. The geezer has a body that is like a dried up twig. He isn’t tall, his back is even bent a little, giving him a lowly appearance. On his face, the facial hair can’t be distinguished from dirt. Nevertheless, his eyes are very clear, like a crane amidst the chickens.

Although Cheng Qian isn’t very particular about hygiene, he still winces at how messy this person is. It’s been a long while since he met such a cultivator, who lets himself be so dirty.

On top of dressing in rags, this person keeps scratching his head, which makes one feel itchy all over just looking at him. If a cultivator has lice, would those lice have some cultivation too?

Standing like a huge monkey by the Dragon Binding Lock, that person laughs as he looks up and down at Cheng Qian, then he speaks like a madman. “You don’t want to sleep? Let’s talk then. Kid, how many are left in your Fuyao Sect?”

Cheng Qian is stunned. This geezer looks like something is wrong in his head, but he can enter a closely-guarded place like this at his whims, then spells out Cheng Qian’s background. He isn’t that simple to deal with.

Hesitating a little, he cautiously asks, “How may I address you, Senior?”

“Meh, don’t call me Senior, that’s annoying. Aren’t you Fuyao Sect members all wild monkeys on that mountain, who never bother with seniority?” Waving his hand, the person replies. “No need to stand on false ceremony with me. I’m Ji Qianli.”

Looking at how the geezer is squatting, Cheng Qian feels it’s really unfair that he gets labelled as a monkey.

Furthermore, “Ji Qianli” doesn’t sound like a real name at all2.

The cultivator, who introduces himself as Ji Qianli, grins and reveals very white teeth. “I heard you gave the old fool Yang Decheng such a thrashing that he got angry from embarrassment? Good work, kid!”

Cheng Qian is confused. “Who is Yang Decheng?”

Ji Qianli says, “He’s the big goon Bian Xu keeps. That old fool has been insufferable in recent years. It’s indeed good that someone gives him a lesson. Alas, he wasn’t like this in his youth. His temperament gets worse in his old age, all because of the pressure of ascension.”

This person appears to understand Black Tortoise Hall well from how he talks. Therefore, Cheng Qian can’t help being on his guard. He says apathetically, “To become so despicable just because of the pressure of something so trivial like ascension, how could he start out as a righteous person?”

Scratching his head, Ji Qianli awkwardly says, “You’re still young. You won’t get it even if I explain to you.”

Assuming a cultivational position, Cheng Qian stubbornly uses his restrained spiritual power to attack the binding spell on his body, as he says leisurely, “A mortal that lives to my age will have great great grandchildren already.”

Ji Qianli laughs. “In the present, you’ve an extraordinary talent, such that you make great progress everyday. You haven’t gotten married or accepted disciples. With such a life, you’ll still be a youngster even if you live to a thousand years old. But one day, you see that everyone in the world addresses you respectfully as ‘Senior’, high-level cultivators regard you like their ancestor, as they find that they can’t reach your level, but you feel that your ability can no longer match your wish, and that ascension keeps drifting away from you. Well, that’s what getting old is like.”

Surprised, Cheng Qian turns around and meets the eyes of the mad geezer.

At that point, he realises that the eyes of that old madman are very dark, just like the bottomless abyss at the back of Fuyao Mountain.

“We aren’t like the mortals,” Ji Qianli says, “The mortals know from their birth that they will definitely die. In eight or nine decades, whether they’re rich or poor, good or evil, their paths all have the same end. Even if their hearts fly further, they’ll always have that home.”

Cheng Qian can’t resist saying, “Can death too be considered a home?”

Ji Qianli laughs and waves his arms, “You brat. You tell me then, if death can’t be considered a home in this life, then what is? However, for us, we don’t even have this home. What is the Great Way? It’s like a radish hanging in front of a donkey. The more powerful you become, the further you get in your cultivation, the more you realise how far away you are from this radish. After bending nature to your will and being revered as deities for your whole life, you’ll end up a handful of dust just like the mortals. Well, isn’t that thousand-year pursuit just a joke?”

As Ji Qianli says this, the smile on his face cools a little. He sighs. “Yang Decheng, Bai Ji, Tang Yao, they are all the same. When I first met them, they were full of youthful enthusiasm and dedication to righteousness, just like how you are now.”

What kind of people Bai Ji and Tang Yao were?

Hearing that, Cheng Qian’s face darkens. He asks with a somewhat forced manner. “Are you praising me?”

Ji Qianli shakes his head and says in a low voice, “One hundred years ago, Tang Yao and Bai Ji colluded with each other to force Gu Yanxue to death. Less than five years after that, Bai Ji died because his lifespan ran out. Even if he was the Lord of the Western Palace, at death, he couldn’t even speak, as his body deteriorated and gave off a terrible odour. Most cultivators kept away from dirty things, so no one wanted to get close to him. About Tang Yao…”

“The relations on Mulan Mountain are traditionally cool, as the people are only keen on powerplay. Thirty years ago, there was a coup at night on Mulan Mountain, then Tang Yao got imprisoned by his junior brother at the back of the mountain, under the excuse that he went into seclusion. No one has heard from him since then, so he is likely no longer of this world.”

“In just a hundred years,” Ji Qianli stretches his arms and sighs, “They once had such glory, but not a trace of that remains.”

Cheng Qian has never had any excess of sympathy. Hearing that, he isn’t moved at all. On the contrary, he says coldly, “The punishment fits the crime. They deserve to die.”

“The punishment fits the crime,” Ji Qianli repeats, then shakes his head. “Youngsters like you all think highly of yourselves, but to reach such heights, who wouldn’t need an extraordinarily firm heart? The problem is… Ah well, forget it.”

Having said that, the strange geezer suddenly jumps from the ground and says to Cheng Qian, “Someone is coming, so I must go. No need to worry. You’re already here at this Immortal Binding Platform, so someone will definitely get you out.”

Who?

Cheng Qian’s first thought is his senior brothers. Or maybe a passer-by like Zhuang Nanxi will say something in defense of him. Besides them, who else wants to rescue him?

Before Cheng Qian says anything, Ji Qianli suddenly dons a different expression and says in a low voice, “I don’t know if that’s your intention or your bad luck, but you show too much of your talent. Even if ‘that person’ helps you, it isn’t necessary out of altruism. Remember, young man, if you want to have a long life, you need to have some tricks, but you must not have too many tricks either. This world currently can’t bear someone who has too much ability. Watch the examples of the likes of Tong Ru and Gu Yanxue. If you don’t want to end up like them, you should get some wisdom.”

Cheng Qian hastily says, “Please wait… Senior!”

Ji Qianli completely ignores him and disappears in a blink of an eye.

This person acts like he is mad, but his words carry some intention. Cheng Qian slowly frowns. What does “the examples of the likes of Tong Ru and Gu Yanxue” mean?

Can it be that there is some link between his disciple grandfather’s fall into the demonic path and the death of Lord Gu?

Before he can come up with a cause, the great doors from all sides of the great hall open with a loud clang all at once. The sunlight floods in, making Cheng Qian unable to open his eyes. A group of people he knows and strangers walk in with great pomp and circumstance.

The person who leads the party of Black Tortoise Hall isn’t the Supreme Elder named Yang Decheng, but a cultivator who has the appearance of a middle-aged man. He has a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. Cheng Qian can have a vague guess that this person is likely the Lord of Black Tortoise Hall Bian Xu.

From the other side, Zhuang Nanxi, together with a middle-aged man with a serious face, also walks in. The two groups, one in white and one in black, show that they are on equal grounds. In this side, Cheng Qian can recognise some faces as he glances at them. They are all disciples of White Tiger Estate that he rescued from the demonic city of Zhaoyang.

From a distance, Zhuang Nanxi meets Cheng Qian’s eyes, as if to reassure him.

Besides these two parties, there are quite a few other unaffiliated cultivators who come to join in the fun. Even Tang Zhen who should have already travelled a good distance is also present.

In front of so many people, Cheng Qian sits properly on the Immortal Binding Platform. He suddenly feels weirdly flattered. He recalls that time on Azure Dragon Island, when he was just a little rogue cultivator who hadn’t reached ‘concentrate the mind’ level. Back then, he only knew to fight with physical strength and gawked at the powerful cultivators battling with each other using advanced techniques. He didn’t even have the position to talk to them, so he could only hide all the time like an egg from an overturned nest.

Only a hundred years have passed. What has he achieved that he gets to experience the treatment given to Lord Gu?

Yang Decheng seems to want to speak, but the square-faced cultivator next to him raises his hand and stops him.

That person steps forward and says, “I am Bian Xu, Lord of Black Tortoise Hall. Daoyu, my subordinate Elder Yang says that you used a special technique to hide your cultivation, that your true self is a demonic cultivator, and that you murdered my child. I should vow not to stand under the same sky with my child’s murderer, but young Zhuang Nanxi of White Tiger Estate tries his best to defend you. Even if the pain of losing my child is great, I don’t want to harm an innocent, so I have you taken here to this Immortal Binding Platform. In the witness of various dignitaries, I wish to ask you one thing. What is really the relation between you and the demonic dragon of Nanjiang? Did my child die under your hand?”

As one of the Four Sages, Bian Xu is indeed more proper than his subordinate the Elder. Even if his eyes are red from the pain of losing his son, he still maintains etiquette.

Cheng Qian gives Yang Decheng a meaningful glance and replies, “I’ve said everything there is to say. On the other hand, this Elder of your esteemed sect is a really funny guy. He seems to think that anyone with cultivation higher than him must be one of the demonic path. Lord Bian, it makes me really curious. Between you and this Elder here, who is more powerful?”

Yang Decheng grits his teeth. “My lord, please don’t listen to him. This little villain has a sharp tongue.”

Because a junior like Cheng Qian dared to beat him in the presence of everyone, what Yang Decheng really wants is to kill him on the spot, then pushes the blame for the troublemaker Bian Xiaohui’s death on him, so that everything is neatly concluded.

However, unexpectedly, Zhuang Nanxi has been spoiling everything. When the battle was raging on, that brat sent a signal to summon the disciples of the White Tiger Estate, who were nearby and could quickly gather there. An Elder of the White Tiger Estate also came after receiving the news.

If Cheng Qian is just a “nobody rogue cultivator”, Yang Decheng of course can decide whatever he likes to him. However, White Tiger Estate is an important ally of his sect, so he cannot easily turn against them. The situation gets even more complicated, as the disciples of White Tiger Estate that were rescued by Cheng Qian do their best to play peacemaker. That is why the case is dragged all the way to the Immortal Binding Platform, and the cultivators with some reputation are all invited here.

With a calm face, Bian Xu asks again, “Daoyu, you have denied that you follow the demonic path. Then, may I ask what is your sect?”

Fuyao Sect already has enough trouble. Naturally, Cheng Qian cannot get his home sect involved, so he replies, “A nobody rogue cultivator.”

Yang Decheng angrily says, “Bullshit!”

Bian Xu frowns. “Daoyu, I am talking properly to you. Why are you so uncooperative? Where did you learn to absorb the qi then? Can it be that you have that ability from birth?”

His hands on his knees, Cheng Qian says with a faint smile, “The Lecture Hall of Azure Dragon Island. If you want to continue asking, I can tell you how Bai Ji and Tang Yao murdered the Lord Gu just because of a “perhaps”. I was there when it happened. Lord Bian, so many things have changed, but that old dog you keep has the exact same impressive aura as those people back then.”

As soon as he says that, there is a loud exclamation from the crowd. There are all kinds of narratives about that incident on Azure Dragon Island, but no one is sure whether Gu Yanxue deserved his death as the punishment for his crime or not. However, he was on the same level as Bian Xu as they are both in the Four Sages. Cheng Qian touches a sensitive spot when he says this.

Someone angrily shouts from the rank of Black Tortoise Hall, “Insolent!”

Zhuang Nanxi hastily says, “Indeed there are powerful people in the wider society. Even if this senior came from Azure Dragon Island, is there even decisive information about how the Lord of the Island went into qi deviation? Furthermore, with this senior’s age, he might not even be able to absorb the qi when Lord Gu fell. Elder Yang, don’t you find that we are jumping to conclusions?”

Yang Decheng smiles coldly, “Nephew, it was just a small favour, but you let yourself be fooled by him? Maybe it was his plan that you people got trapped in Zhaoyang!”

Tang Zhen, who is watching from the outside, lazily raises his voice. “He broke into Zhaoyang City to find something for me. The rescue was just a coincidence. There was no scheme or conspiracy. Some people should rein in their imagination.”

Yang Decheng turns sharply and glares at Tang Zhen. “Who on earth are you?”

Tang Zhen observes him with an expressionless face, then raises his voice, “I’m just a nobody. In any case, Elder Yang, I can see that there is a dark shadow on your forehead, and there seem to be red veins around your eyebrow. Looks like you have a demon of the heart, which won’t be good for your cultivation. I think you should stay away from trouble, and focus on taking care of yourself more.”

Yang Decheng says, “You…”

He has only said one syllable, but Tang Zhen already bends down and coughs like a tuberculosis patient. Liu Lang, who has been waiting beside him, hastily supports him and rubs his back. It’s like a demonstration that this sickly cultivator will quickly be bullied to death by Elder Yang, who abuses his power.

Bian Xu frowns and says, “Decheng, don’t squabble with a junior.”

Being forced to step back, Yang Decheng’s face is full of resentment. He gives a signal to the disciples of Black Tortoise Hall behind him with his eyes. Right away, a disciple that is keen to butter up the seniors guesses what he wants and speaks up on his behalf. “My lord, I know a method to tell if someone is a demonic cultivator or not, no matter how well the bloody aura is hidden.”

Zhuang Nanxi and the Elder of the White Tiger Estate next to him look at each other, as both of them have a bad feeling.

As they expect, the disciple continues, “Techniques as well as the primordial spirit being expressed outside can be disguised, but we only need to open his head and check where the primordial spirit resides to know if he is a demonic cultivator or not.”

As soon as those words are spoken, the Elder of White Tiger Estate shouts, “Absurd! You may as well demand his chest to be torn open to check if his heart is red or black. Lord Bian, don’t you mind that your sect’s disciple can speak so insolently?”

Bian Xu rubs his forehead.

Yang Decheng says sarcastically, “It’s only opening up his head, not killing him. With so many fellow cultivators being present here, how can anyone do some dirty trick? If he is really of the righteous path, of course we of Black Tortoise Hall will compensate with cultivational medicine, so that he can recover in just a short while!”

Even if Yang Decheng is petty and delusional, it is indeed not his intention to smear Cheng Qian. He really believes that Cheng Qian is a demonic cultivator, so he says, full of conviction, “Is there any reason that he is unwilling to let us check?”

Zhuang Nanxi, “Lord Bian, such kind of measure has never been done at this Immortal Binding Platform. I believe that Senior Cheng absolutely has no relation with the demonic cultivators. Even if we examine the inside of his head, we won’t find anything. Pardon me for being so bold, but Black Tortoise Hall will be embarrassed if people outside hear of that.”

The disciple of Black Tortoise Hall who gave that ridiculous suggestion says, “Don’t worry, we of the Black Tortoise Hall are honourable. If we are wrong, we’ll definitely apologise and acknowledge our error to the world.”

The Elder of White Tiger Estate can’t hold it in anymore. “Lord Bian…”

Yang Decheng interrupts, “If he dares not let us do that, it means he has something to hide!”

Cheng Qian: “…”

Before the main parties have said anything, these two people are already in a tense quarrel.

At that moment, a voice raises from outside the great hall of the Immortal Binding Platform. “Something to hide? On the contrary, I want to know who injured him!”

As soon as these words are spoken, the person charges in with his sword in hand. Before he even appears, his oppressive sword will already sweeps across the great hall.

Cheng Qian finally pales.

*******

1. "Shizhou" means 'ten provinces'

2. The Vietnamese translator notes that "Ji Qianli" is one character away from and sounds like "a thousand miles"